At the foot of Jotunheimen, at the southern end of Lemonsjøen lake and surrounded by Norway's most beautiful nature, lies Kalven - a farmhouse with eight log cabins, so far away from city life that you wouldn't think it was possible to find a coffee shop. You could be so wrong.
- People are struck dumb with admiration when they enter the old farmhouse. The contrast between the smell of the fireplace, old logs and our bright red espresso machine, Nouva Simonelli, is simply unique.
Unique really is the word. The coffee bar itself is refreshingly untypical and the perfect, yet effortless, meeting point between the coffee traditions of the big city and the Norwegian mountains. Here you can enjoy a cup of freshly ground quality coffee in the summer sun, served by perhaps Norway's only barista shop owner.
With love in every nail stroke
The adventure began in 2001, when married couple Anne-Mari and Øistein bought a farm with a seat at Tessand in Vågå. The houses were dilapidated, but between the chips in the broken logs they saw potential. They wanted to restore the farmhouse to the standard it once had, and that's where the dream of a coffee shop was born for Anne-Mari.
The self-proclaimed barista has always been a true coffee lover. Her heart has been beating for the tasty beverage since her grandfather gave her her first cup at the age of five: black coffee with eighteen sugar cubes and a pint of milk. A kind of latte, if you will. Since then, her taste buds have matured, but her love for coffee is stronger than ever.
- When we started the restoration process, I dreamed of creating a coffee shop on the setra. The process took many years and a lot of hard work, but it was definitely worth it. There's love behind every single nail," says Anne-Mari.
On July 1, 2013, twelve years after they first fell in love with the farmhouse, Kalven was ready. Since then, it's been a dream come true. They stay open when there are people around, and otherwise they just live there. The perfect basis for a coffee shop full of homely warmth, accompanied by perhaps Norway's most beautiful nature experience.
With the raw material in focus
However, it's not just the combination of scenic location, local rural idyll and charming premises that has made Kalven a beloved attraction worth noting. For Anne-Mari, quality is essential. Anything that is not locally sourced must be traceable. The bean-to-cup principle is something she values highly.
- Knowledge is very important, which is why I aim to know the origin of every single ingredient I use - both when it comes to food and coffee. With coffee from Solberg and Hansen, I am confident that every bean is of good quality.
The same goes for the food, or biteti (something to bite into), served at the setra. Here you'll find only local dishes such as smoked bread, waffles, patties and wafers - as authentic and traditional as the log cabins themselves.
A well-deserved break
If you happen to be in the area, Kalven is the perfect place for a well-deserved break. Setra is almost designed to unwind - both literally and metaphorically. With the limited mobile phone coverage in the mountains, it's ideal for a proper coffee break, with no interference from anyone other than the people you're there with. Many people appreciate that.
- In the summer, we are visited by passers-by, cottagers and people from the nearby village - all kinds of people. They come here to be together, enjoy a good cup of coffee, traditional food and beautiful scenery.